Local News

WJBD
- Local News
- Report: Tamms Prison Has More Guards than Inmates

Report: Tamms Prison Has More Guards than Inmates

By The Associated Press

TAMMS, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois supermax prison that Governor Pat Quinn is looking to close has more guards than inmates but still is paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime to its security staff. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the Tamms Correctional Center in Alexander County has 208 guards and supervisors in its maximum-security unit. That prison is home to 138 prisoners.

The newspaper says state payroll records show that the Tamms' security staff has clocked at least $884,000 in overtime over a one-year period ending Nov. 12. That's even as inmates in the solitary-confinement supermax unit are kept in their cells for all but one hour each day. Several state lawmakers say they find the costs surprising and worth examining.